346 John Bachman. 



met in 1815, I only am left, and, of its members, i 

 am the oldest on their record. 



At our first confirmation, in 1810, sixty-four per- 

 sons were dedicated to God, nine only are now alive. 

 Nearl}^ all of these are now before me. You, my 

 dear friends, who were the first fruits of my min- 

 istry — you are all that are now left of that crowd — 

 the rest have fallen by the hand of death, and be- 

 come the tenants of the devouring grave. You, my 

 friends, will surely draw near to me in my decline 

 of life, and exhibit to the younger generations your 

 faith in God, your love and constancy to the Saviour, 

 and your assured hope of everlasting life. * * * 



Little remains of that thread of life which has 

 been spun out in the midst of you. In a few weeks 

 I shall have attained my sixty-eighth year. I 

 would not wish to recall that life, unless it could be 

 spent in greater usefulness to you and to others. I 

 trust, through the merc}^ of that Saviour who died 

 for a fallen world, that I shall be prepared cheerfully, 

 whenever He shall see fit to call me hence, to 

 resign my spirit into the hands of that God who 

 gave it. * 



This congregation is the only one I have had the 

 charge of since my ordination. I did not hesitate 

 for a moment to give a negative reply to all invita- 

 tions from other sources in the Church, and from 

 seats of learning — offering higher pecuniary advan- 

 tages. I came not to seek your wealth — a minister, 

 who is devoted to his duties, has no time to lay up 

 treasures of earth. He is commanded to use hospi- 

 tality to the household of faith, and more especially 

 to his brethren in the ministry. He is liable to 

 daily calls on his income, for he must become the 

 almoner of the poor, and listen to the petitions of 

 the stranger — in this way, he is relieved of much 

 that he receives. * "^ * * * * 



